Blends of polyethylene and peo having inverse phase morphology and method of making the blends

Abstract

A thermoplastic film comprises a polyolefin, such as polyethylene, as a major constituent, poly(ethylene oxide) as a minor constituent and has a total of from about 0.1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of monomer grafted to the polyolefin and the poly(ethylene oxide). The film exhibits an inverse phase morphology so that the poly(ethylene oxide) forms a continuous phase and the polyolefin forms a dispersed or discontinuous phase in the film. Desirably, the film can be used in disposable personal hygiene articles.

We claim: 
     
       1. A thermoplastic article comprising: a) from 55 weight percent to about 85 weight % of a polyolefin;   b) from about 45 weight % to about 15 weight % of poly(ethylene oxide); and   c) from about 0.1 weight % to about 30 weight percent, based on the total amount of the polyolefin and the poly(ethylene oxide), of polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate grafted to said polyolefin and said poly(ethylene oxide); whereby said article exhibits an inverse phase morphology so that said poly(ethylene oxide) forms a continuous phase and said polyolefin forms a dispersed or discontinuous phase in said thermoplastic article.   
     
     
       2. The thermoplastic article of claim 1 comprising from 60 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of said polyolefin and from about 40 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of said poly(ethylene oxide). 
     
     
       3. The thermoplastic article of claim 1 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene. 
     
     
       4. The thermoplastic article of claim 1 wherein said polyolefin is polypropylene. 
     
     
       5. The thermoplastic article of claim 1 wherein a total of about 1 weight percent to about 20 weight percent, based on the total amount of polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide), of said monomer is grafted onto said polyolefin and said poly(ethylene oxide). 
     
     
       6. The thermoplastic article of claim 1 wherein a total of about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent, based on the total amount of polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide), of said monomer is grafted onto said polyolefin and said poly(ethylene oxide). 
     
     
       7. The thermoplastic article of claim 1 wherein said article is a film. 
     
     
       8. The thermoplastic film of claim 7 wherein the polyolefin in the dispersed phase has an average cross-sectional diameter of from about 0.1 microns to about 50 microns. 
     
     
       9. The thermoplastic film of claim 7 wherein the polyolefin in the dispersed phase has an average cross-sectional diameter of from about 0.5 microns to about 30 microns. 
     
     
       10. The thermoplastic film of claim 7 wherein the polyolefin in the dispersed phase has an average cross-sectional diameter of from about 0.5 microns to about 25 microns. 
     
     
       11. A thermoplastic film comprising: a) from 55 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of polyethylene;   b) from about 45 weight percent to about 15 weight percent poly(ethylene oxide); and   c) from about 0.1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent, based on the total amount of polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide), of polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate grafted to said polyethylene and said poly(ethylene oxide) whereby said film exhibits an inverse phase morphology so that said poly(ethylene oxide) forms a continuous phase and said polyethylene forms a dispersed or discontinuous phase in said thermoplastic film.   
     
     
       12. The thermoplastic film of claim 11 comprising from 60 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of said polyolefin and from about 40 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of said poly(ethylene oxide). 
     
     
       13. The thermoplastic film of claim 11, wherein a total of about 0.1 weight percent to about 20 weight percent, based on the total weight of polyethylene and poly(ethylene oxide), of said polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate is grafted onto said polyethylene and said poly(ethylene oxide). 
     
     
       14. The thermoplastic film of claim 11, wherein a total of about 0.1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of polyethylene and poly(ethylene oxide), of said polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate is grafted onto said polyethylene and said poly(ethylene oxide). 
     
     
       15. The thermoplastic film of claim 11 wherein the polyethylene in the dispersed phase has an average cross-sectional diameter of from about 0.1 microns to about 50 microns. 
     
     
       16. A thermoplastic article comprising: a) a polyolefin;   b) poly(ethylene oxide); and   c) from about 0.1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent, based on the total amount of polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide), of polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate grafted onto said polyolefin and said poly(ethylene oxide); whereby said article exhibits an inverse phase morphology so that said poly(ethylene oxide) forms a continuous phase and said polyolefin forms a dispersed or discontinuous phase in said thermoplastic article.   
     
     
       17. The thermoplastic article of claim 16, wherein the article comprises greater than about 50 weight percent of said polyolefin and less than about 50 weight percent of said poly(ethylene oxide). 
     
     
       18. The thermoplastic article of claim 16, wherein the article comprises from 55 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of said polyolefin and from about 45 weight % to about 15 weight percent of said poly(ethylene oxide). 
     
     
       19. The thermoplastic article of claim 16, wherein the article comprises from 60 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of said polyolefin and from about 40 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of said poly(ethylene oxide). 
     
     
       20. The thermoplastic article of claim 16, wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene.